How to Support Subs and Reserves in the Role Ep 444 Sammy Lander Part 2

Are you coaching your substitutes — or just managing them? 🏆In Part 2 of our conversation with Sammy Lander — specialist subs coach and founder of the Finishers Academy — we go deep into one of the most overlooked leadership challenges in sports: how to coach, develop, and inspire athletes who aren't in the starting lineup. Sammy brings battle-tested strategies from English professional soccer that every coach and leader can apply — from building bench identity and simulating game scenarios in training, to supporting athletes emotionally after they've been dropped. If you want to build a stronger team culture, reduce playing time issues, and become the kind of leader your athletes never forget, this episode is for you. 🎧 Missed Part 1? Watch it here: WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: ✅ Why substitutes need their OWN coaching system — not a watered-down version of starter prep ✅ How to use identity (Finishers, Impactors) to transform bench culture and team cohesion ✅ Practical in-game warm-up strategies to keep subs physically ready at any moment ✅ How to have the "you've been dropped" conversation with confidence and care ✅ The Steve Kerr training method that extended his NBA career — and what it teaches every coach ✅ How to build a "substitution union" subculture that players actually buy into ✅ Why players out of the lineup may need MORE coaching attention than starters ⏱️ CHAPTERS: 0:00 – The Steve Kerr substitute method: training for your role 0:45 – Introduction: Sammy Lander, Finishers Academy & Part 2 overview 2:25 – How to build an authentic bench culture (not prescribed behaviors) 5:21 – The goalkeeper coach parallel: why subs deserve specialist coaching 6:33 – Building a sub identity: Finishers, Impactors & the Bench Mob 10:13 – Rebuilding confidence after being dropped & keeping players physically ready 18:00 – The subs coach role: what it looks like & how to implement it on your staff 23:00 – Sammy's key quote: "I'm not here to make you feel good about being a sub" 26:00 – Where to find Sammy & the Finishers Academy🔗 CONNECT WITH SAMMY LANDER: 📘 Book — Finishers: 💼 LinkedIn: 📬 GET THE FREE EPISODE NOTES:

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How to Support Subs and Reserves in the Role Ep 444 Sammy Lander Part 2 is an episode from Coaching Culture by Coaching Culture Podcast.

This episode is 00:26:22 long.

This episode was published on Mar 8, 2026.

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